Task Enterprises presentsNFL Intelligence

2001 · Week 17

Final

Broncos

Denver

QB Brian Griese

10·29

Colts

Indianapolis

QB Peyton Manning

RCA Dome · dome · astroturf

Closing spread

IND -2

Total

51

Model margin

+2.1est.

IND perspective

Push chance

2.1%est.

Win probability

  • Colts
  • Broncos

How each play moved the game.

Colts winsBroncos wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Broncosedge mapColts
  • -0.044EPA / play+0.005
  • 42.2%Success rate45.6%
  • -0.020EPA / dropback+0.055
  • -0.075EPA / rush-0.069
  • 6.2%Explosive rate10.6%
  • 37.7%Third-down rate41.4%
  • 55.8%Red-zone TD rate66.3%
  • 1.49Points / drive1.62
  • 2.4%Turnover rate3.4%
  • -0.038EPA / play allowed+0.059

Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.

The rivalry

IND lead 14–6 since 1999

Meetings average 48.3 points. IND are 14-6 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2025 · W2DEN @ IND2829IND
2024 · W15IND @ DEN1331DEN
2022 · W5IND @ DEN129IND
2019 · W8DEN @ IND1315IND
2017 · W15DEN @ IND2513DEN
2016 · W2IND @ DEN2034DEN
2015 · W9DEN @ IND2427IND
2014 · playoffsIND @ DEN2413IND

Box score

Individual performances

Broncos

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Brian Griese16/3215114

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Terrell Davis18824.60
Mike Anderson5204.00
Brian Griese2136.50

Colts

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Peyton Manning16/3019121

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Dominic Rhodes311414.50
Kevin McDougal284.00
Peyton Manning221.00

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Marvin Harrison9151282
Dominic Rhodes25300
Reggie Wayne24170
Marcus Pollard22110
Ken Dilger1150
Trevor Insley0300

Where this game is likely to land

  • Model
  • Smooth (normal)
  • Betting line

Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.

line +24.1%2.7%7.0%7.5%3.1%4.7%3.0%

Positive margins favour Colts; negative favour Broncos.

Half-point at risk

2.14%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

54.8%

Expected total

46.0est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)-0.42
  • Home-field advantage+2.56
  • Quarterback adjustment0.00
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+2.14